Stencil blank holder



RE. WINEBRENNER STENCIL BLANK HOLDER Feb. 13, 1940.

. Filed March 22, 1939 vucwkw 1 .055275. W/NEEkE/V/VEE. 1

Patented Feb. 1940 UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE i v 2,190,499

STENCILBLANK HOLDER BobertE. Winebrenner, Hanover, Pa. Application March 22, 1939, Serial No. 263,523

, stonin (01. 101-114) 1 This-invention refers to stencils'and-more particularlyto adevice for holding same during use in marking. Ithas among its objectstopro' .vide a holder for stencil blanks that will'g-retain the stencil blank in position for stenc'illing, in

a secure and substantial manner, to have the arrangement such that the hands of the user will be protected from the ink or'paint used in making the markings; that will enable the sten- -lo cil to be held more conveniently than with the fingers alone, and usable over a broader area about the user. Another object isto'have the stencilconstructed so that it may, be used in various positions predetermined upon. A-further l5 object is to have the stencil that it may 'be"controlled by the hand rather than byv the fingers; that the device may be kept' clean'feasily; that will 'be non-splashing; and will act as a guide for the stencil, and allow speedier stencilling. Other objects will .become apparent asthe invention is more fully set forth; '1

The usual manner of stencilling requiresthe placing of the stencil blank on the box or plane to be marked, and; held by'the fingers of the g5 operator. The stencil brush is then passed: across the stencil, and the mark appears on the surface treated. If the brush is'pushed too strongly on the stencil blank, it is apt to displacesameand cause the marking to blur orbe erratic, because it is difiicult; to hold the stencil still with the fingers alone. The fingers usually have to be moved several times, when a large stencil is used, to allow the brush to operate properly, and .no matter how careful the user is, he is apt to get 5 inked, and the stencil blank displaced.

This may be due to the brush striking hisfingers or because of the handling of the stencil after "it norhas been inked. This device does not require thehands or fingers to touch the 40 stencil blank at all. It picks up the stencil at a distance from the fingers, through an open jaw,

which, closes tightly on same and retains thest'encilin any position selected. The holder consists of a jaw member and a handle. The handle of the device is grasped by the hand and lifts the stencil blank like a stove lid is lifted. The stencil blank islaid on the surface to be marked by the holder and held securely by pressing on the handle and holding the jaw member firmly o down on it. The brush is then manipulated with the other hand in the conventional manner,

across the face of the stencil blank. 'Thestencil blank is then lifted with the device and placed away, the jaw member being opened to allow it 55 to fall out when the stencil blank is to be dis- .out of line.

is connected with a handle carded. The holder may then be easily wiped off to clean it, if there is any stencilling ink on it.

- It has a shield arrangement arranged at an angle that prevents the ink from the stencil splashing, when it strikes same, which shield also serves 's to stiffen the device and reinforce the stencil blank so that it will be held out straight and rigidly. Work may be done considerably quicker by using the holder, and with less spoiling of the work and user, than is possible without its 'lll use, and takes better care of the stencil blank. The special knurling on the gripping portion of the jaws prevents the stencil'blank from getting In the drawing is shown a I embodiment .orms this invention, in which: i

, Figure l is a perspective. View of a'stencil holding device embodying this invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device indi--- cated in Figure l, witha dotted 'outlineshowing, 2 the position of the parts whenopen,

Figure 3 is a'sectional detail of the swivel joint used with the handle of the device, I

Figure 4 indicates a detail-of the special khdrling on the gripping portion of the jaw members. A Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

In the drawing 1 represents the outline of a conventional stencil blank which has letters or figures2 :cut out to provide the usual script to 30 be copied on the surface to be marked. Itis" of the usual'rectangular form and of oiled paper or card. The stencil blank is placed-on a flat lower jaw member 3 which is hinged at 5 one, transverse bar it, to an upper jaw member 4 which is bevelled down to meet the front. portion of the member 3, and contact same, a spring 6 on the bar IE'being arranged between the two members to provide a closing pressure on same,

to keep the jaws closed normally. The rear por- 0 tion 1 of the upper jaw member is horizontal or practically parallel to-the normal plane of the H bottom or lower jaw member 3, and extends back over the rear portion of this member 3, but short of its upwardly extendingfiange 8, so as not to 5 interfere with its movement when the jaws are opened. A back ridge limits the amount of stencil blank inthe holder; The rear portion 1 has a swivel joint 9 as indicatedmounted on it, and

I0 that may move in any directionand be locked in position by bolt means H. The purpose of the swivel is to allow'the device to beheld in any position, so as to enable the stencil blankto be placed in the most convenient position withrespect to the ,J'aws,:at this location,

work for inking. A non-splash shield I 2 is mounted on the front of the upper jaw member 4 as indicated and at an angle of about 60 degrees to the horizontal plane of the stencil and above the hand level, to cover the upper jaw member and also prevent the brush from splashing, at the end of its stroke, if it is drawn towards the hand holding the device. The shield is longer than the jaws and also acts like a palette if the brush is drawn in the reverse direction. This is especially valuable, when too much ink or paint is placed on the brush,before stencilling. This convenience enables the operator to make his stencilling uniform and avoid the troubles of smudging and spoiling the stencil work frequently incurred. The flange 8 serves to preventany ink or paint flowing back from the stencil onto the rear of the device, where it will soil the hands v of the operator or material beyond the stencil space. It is very simple to insert the stencil blanks or remove same, as the bending back of the shield gl2'between the thumb of the hand holding the handle l0 and the first finger on the lower jaw. This causes the upper jaw 4 to open and press against the spring 6, as'it tips on the hinges 5. The removal of the thumb from the shield allows the jaw member 4 to snap back on the lower jaw or on the stencil blank placed on same." The stencil blank is placed in the proper position. there being ample provisionfor holding itin the device, and it cannot be drawn out of the jaws without considerable effort and trouble, unless thejaws' are opened in the manner already described. The special knurling I 6 runs transversely across the gripping portion of the jaw members and offers sufiicient contact with .the blank as to prevent it slipping'out of place, when once the jaws close and contact it, and at the same time, does not injure the blank. The

are slightly rounded.

While but one form of the invention is indicated in the drawing, it is not desired to limit this application forpatent to the particular form indicated, unless otherwise limited by the prior art, as it is appreciated that other construction could be used, employing the same principles and coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: a

1., A stencil holder of the class described comprising in combination a plurality of jaws for holding stencil blanks, means for actuating same, a handle for supporting the jaws, and .a shield mounted on the jaws.

2. A stencil holder of the class described comprising in combination, a lower jaw member having an upwardly extending flange thereon for.

limiting the placement of stencil blanks thereon, f

member hinged to'the said lower resilient means for retainingthe ing an upwardly extending flange thereon for limiting the placement of stencil blanks thereon,

an upper jaw member hinged to the said lower resilient means for retaining the and an angularly disposed shield attached to the last mentioned jaw member at i the portion adapted for binding the stencil blank jaw member, a variably, disposed .handle' attached to the upper .jaw member and in the lower arranged to be protected by the shield in all positions;

4. In a stencil holder, the combination of a pluralityvof jaws adapted to hold stencil blanks the jaws, and means for of the stencil brush used out flat and away from limiting the movement on the stencil blanks, against the jaws and guiding same away from the said jaws, and means for holding the jaws away and an angularly disposed shield from the user and permittingv the same to hold the'stencil blanks in, .35

variable predetermined positions, and means connectedwith the jaws-for preventing stencil ink used on the said blanks from gettingbeyond the rear portion of the jaws.

5."In a stencil holder, the combination of aa plurality of jaws adapted to hold stencil blanks out flat and away from the jaws, and means for limiting the movement of the stencil brush used on the stencil blanks, against the jaws and guid-' ing. same away from blanks will be kept securely in position by them when the jaws are closed.

' ROBERT E. WINEBRENNER.

the said jaws, and means onthe jaw for restricting the movement of the'stencil blanks gripped by the same, and wherebysaid, 

